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CBCapital BearingsFounder finance field guide

An overhead founder worktable with a compass, calculator, blank planning sheets, and colored document tabs

Founder finance field guide

Find a bearing before you raise.

Capital Bearings maps startup capital, ownership, and readiness through primary sources, plain-language comparisons, and dated reviews.

Explore the Capital Path Index

Primary sources
Route comparisons
Dated reviews

Five decision areas

Follow the question that is in front of the company.

01

A marked planning map beside a notebook and a mechanical pencil on a founder worktable

Decision route

Choose Capital

Compare routes before committing to a financing process.

Bootstrapping vs Venture Capital Debt vs Equity vs Grant Funding

02

A paper calendar, note cards, and a blank planning ledger arranged in soft window light

Decision route

Raise Early

Read early instruments, investor paths, and offering routes.

Startup Funding Stages SAFE vs Convertible Note

03

A calculator, ruler, and hand-drawn ownership bars on an uncluttered desk

Decision route

Price Ownership

See how financing can change shares, dilution, and obligations.

Startup Cap Table Basics Startup Dilution Explained

04

Indexed folders, document tabs, and a clean checklist arranged on a work surface

Decision route

Prepare Diligence

Organize the records that a financing process will inspect.

Startup Fundraising Data Room Checklist Venture Capital Term Sheet Basics

05

A library research desk with a laptop closed beside agency search notes and paper tabs

Decision route

Public Programs

Navigate loans, research awards, and grant opportunities.

SBA Loans vs SBIC Investment SBIR and STTR Funding for Startups

Signature resource

Capital Path Index

Compare ownership, repayment, eligibility, paperwork, and canonical next sources without pretending there is one universally best route.

Compare capital routes

Revenue-funded growth: No dilution · No scheduled repayment
Post-money SAFE: Possible future dilution · No scheduled repayment
Convertible note: Possible future dilution · Negotiated debt terms
Priced equity round: Immediate dilution · No scheduled repayment
Regulation Crowdfunding: Immediate dilution · No scheduled repayment

Field notes and guides

Sources have dates. Decisions should, too.

August 23, 2026 A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for the capital route question

A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for the capital route question

Field note

The capital route question

A source-led route into the relevant guide, with time-sensitive material kept distinct from evergreen mechanics.

August 23, 2026 A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for section 83(b) filing source check

A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for section 83(b) filing source check

Field note

Section 83(b) filing source check

A source-led route into the relevant guide, with time-sensitive material kept distinct from evergreen mechanics.

July 9, 2026 A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for regulation crowdfunding guidance update

A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for regulation crowdfunding guidance update

Field note

Regulation Crowdfunding guidance update

A source-led route into the relevant guide, with time-sensitive material kept distinct from evergreen mechanics.

June 26, 2026 A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for exempt offering pathways

A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for exempt offering pathways

Field note

Exempt offering pathways

A source-led route into the relevant guide, with time-sensitive material kept distinct from evergreen mechanics.

May 29, 2026 A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for private-market context, q1 2026

A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for private-market context, q1 2026

Field note

Private-market context, Q1 2026

A source-led route into the relevant guide, with time-sensitive material kept distinct from evergreen mechanics.

April 11, 2025 A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for startup ip resource check

A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for startup ip resource check

Field note

Startup IP resource check

A source-led route into the relevant guide, with time-sensitive material kept distinct from evergreen mechanics.

April 2025 A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for irs form 15620 reference

A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for irs form 15620 reference

Field note

IRS Form 15620 reference

A source-led route into the relevant guide, with time-sensitive material kept distinct from evergreen mechanics.

March 25, 2025 A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for sec small-business pathway overview

A research desk detail with labeled paper tabs and a source note for sec small-business pathway overview

Field note

SEC small-business pathway overview

A source-led route into the relevant guide, with time-sensitive material kept distinct from evergreen mechanics.

Recent guides

New questions on the route

Guide

A working scene for venture capital market, q1 2026 planning

field-notes

Venture Capital Market, Q1 2026

Concentration and stage variation matter more than a headline.

Guide

A working scene for federal grants for startups planning

public-programs

Federal Grants for Startups

Verify eligibility, agency, deadline, and application package.

Guide

A working scene for sbir and sttr funding for startups planning

public-programs

SBIR and STTR Funding for Startups

Program fit, phases, agency missions, and official opportunities.

Guide

A working scene for sba loans vs sbic investment planning

public-programs

SBA Loans vs SBIC Investment

Lender-delivered loans and privately managed investment capital.

Guide

A working scene for startup ip due diligence checklist planning

prepare-diligence

Startup IP Due Diligence Checklist

Owned, assigned, licensed, registered, and confidential assets.

Guide

A working scene for venture capital term sheet basics planning

prepare-diligence

Venture Capital Term Sheet Basics

Vocabulary to recognize before counsel review.

Guide

A working scene for startup fundraising data room checklist planning

prepare-diligence

Startup Fundraising Data Room Checklist

A staged, privacy-aware record checklist.

Guide

A working scene for 83(b) election for startup founders planning

price-ownership

83(b) Election for Startup Founders

A source-led filing overview, not personal tax advice.

How to use this field guide

Start with the capital route comparison, then read the guide that names the trade-off you need to understand. Our methodology explains classifications, our source ledger links to the originals, and Field Notes keep changing material distinct. Learn what the desk covers about Capital Bearings. The operational boundaries are set out in the privacy policy and legal notice.

A neighboring desk

For teams weighing operations outside the usual metros, Odisha Investment Notes keeps a plain-terms record of Odisha for investors: land allotment, power, water, and the approval steps a project meets in that Indian state.